Christen und Juden
Herzliche Grüße aus Karlsruhe vom Veranstaltungsort der Vollversammlung. Ich sitze in einem der Essensbereiche unter Bäumen, nicht weit von der Schwarzwaldhalle im Kongresszentrum, wo die thematischen Plena stattfinden und mit Blick auf das große Gottesdienstzelt. Um mich herum sprechen Leute über interreligiöse Zusammenarbeit im Umweltschutz, das Verhältnis von Mission und Kolonialismus bzw. Widerstand gegen Kolonialismus oder über verschiedene Auslegungen der Geschichte von der kanaanäischen Frau, dem heute leitenden Bibeltext.
Zu Beginn des Plenums heute morgen (Thema: Gerechtigkeit und Menschenwürde) sprach Rabbi David Fox Sandmel ein Grußwort. Er ist der Vorsitzende des Internationalen Jüdischen Komitees für Interreligiöse Konsultationen. Ich gebe einen Abschnitt aus seinem Beitrag weiter:
„…One of the most profound examples of the power of communal reconciliation can be seen in what has taken place between Jews and Christians since the end of the Shoah, the Holocaust. The repudiation by many Christians theologians and institutions of antisemitism and the rejection of the classical Christian “teaching of contempt” for Jews
and Judaism is unprecedented in human history. Indeed, at its founding in 1948 the World Council of Churches called antisemitism “sin against man (sic) and God” and has repeatedly spoken out against anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence. This revolution in Jewish-Christian relations should be celebrated and can serve as an inspiration and a model that prejudice and hatred can be overcome. Many in the Jewish community are sadly unaware of the great progress in Jewish-Christian relations. And it is a harsh reality that antisemitism persists; Jews around the world continue to be the targets of hatred, including lethal hatred. Reconciliation, of course, is an ongoing process. Despite the progress in Jewish Christian relations, anti-Jewish tropes still find expression in some Christian teaching and preaching, in many cases the result of ignorance rather than malice. Correcting deeply imbedded biases and becoming sensitized to what hurts and offends takes time and effort – and the courage to be honest with oneself and others. It also takes time to build trust. It is, therefore, encouraging that in recent years, IJCIC and the leadership of the WCC have engaged in serious, substantial, respectful, and productive conversations about a variety of topics including our deep and abiding attachment to the people and land of Israel. We are learning how to discuss this most sensitive issue in ways that promote, rather than obstruct, dialogue so that together we can further the cause of peace in the region. We hope that this relationship and our understanding of one another will grow and deepen in the years ahead…“
Ulrike Schmidt-Hesse, Karlsruhe